Anti-Americanism and regionalism in East Asia

Abstract

Asian countries are intensifying their efforts for regional co-operation ever since the Asian crisis struck in 1997. In some countries, these attempts have been accompanied by strong criticism of American economic and foreign policies. However, this does not equal Anti-Americanism. Rather, we are confronted with a puzzle: on the one hand, East Asian societies continue to follow American culture as well as maintain strong security ties with Washington. On the other, East Asian countries are very eagerly trying to reduce their dependence on institutions that are heavily influenced by the US, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The paper argues that the declining influence of the US in East Asia is the combined effect of a number of factors: The decreasing attractiveness of the US as an economic power, the increasing importance of China as well as its clever diplomacy, the disastrous policies of the American-led IMF in the Asian crisis and the unfortunate foreign policy of George W. Bush.